To dip corals or not to dip?

Dip or not? 

To be safe when placing a new coral in the tank, we should definitely dip it. If you choose to skip this process, you are putting your aquarium at risk for parasites, which can be really invasive and problematic.

If you want to learn how to properly dip corals – read the dedicated article.

In marine aquaristics, coral dipping is used to eliminate parasites, prevent disease, and reduce the chances of infection. 

Don’t risk it!

Here’s why you should dip:

• Parasites and pathogens that cause diseases in corals can cause stress and even death of the animal. Pests usually enter the tank as a stowaway on rocks, corals or plugs, or are transported in water.
• In the case of pests in the aquarium, it is better to act preventively than to fight parasites or coral diseases later, so always dip new corals before placing them in the main tank.

Below you’ll find a list of the most common pests and problems in corals that can be avoided by dipping:

• Red Bugs
• Crabs
• Flatworms
• Nudibranchs
• Zoanthid Eating Spiders
• Bristle Worms
• Sundial Snails
• Bristle Worms
• Brown Jelly
• Bacterial infections

Summary

Regardless of whether the new coral comes from a more or less trusted source – always remember to dip it before placing it in the aquarium. The negative effects of skipping this process can cause you really big trouble, so it’s better not to try to save time on this.